Welcome to our News Feed!

Transcription

1 NEWSLETTER 3 - YOUTH CORPS 2017 WEEK OF JULY 24TH, 2017

2 Welcome to our News Feed! Upcoming Events: - Halifax Pride Festival July 20 th 30 th, Tall Ships Regatta Visits Halifax! July 29th - August 1 st - Halifax International Busker Festival August 2 nd to 7 th, Mi'kmaq Youth Camp: August 8 th 15 th, Paqtnkek Mi kmaw Nation - Nikani Awtiken Summer Camp:, August 8th 15th, Mi kmaq Environmental Learning Centre, Eskasoni - Hope for Wildlife Annual Open House, August 27 th 2017 In this Newsletter - NEWSLETTER SNEAK PEAK: Preview photos on this page! (below) - A Day in the Life Project Spotlights: - Shan Daph Oysters - Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation (Wstershed Restoration & Environmental Education - EfficiencyOne - Pictou County Rivers Association - Paqtnkek Mi'kmaw Nation - Connect with us on social media! Links to join Hivebrite, or follow our Twitter, and Instagram feeds - ) Ronnie Noonan and Kennedy Frittenburg at BCAF s Morton Center! James Vlasic checking out the aquaculture at ShanDaph Oysters! BCAF Stream Restoration with Emma Walker and Melissa Rafuse! Continue reading for more

3 A Day in the Life James Vlasic, Oyster Harvester at ShanDaph Oysters PHOTO ABOVE: Intern James Vlasic readjusting oyster grow out units suspended in water columns at ShanDaph While working at ShanDaph this summer, James Vlasic has been thoroughly enjoying building upon his background in marine aquaculture while learning how to integrate sustainable practices into oyster farming. James internship revolves around implementing, monitoring, and maintaining oyster grow out units suspended in water columns. This July and August, James can also be found snorkeling along the shores of Big Island while assessing and collecting full-grown oysters, sorting and categorizing the mollusks, and making a recognizable contribution to integrating green practices into the institution of shellfish farming. ShanDaph Oysters was officially established 18 years ago, but its roots reach back through the family for over thirty years. Owner/Operator Philip Docker has made a name for himself growing and harvesting oysters on the shores of Big Island, Nova Scotia. The oyster growing process takes 3-5 three years total for oysters to reach maturity (over 76 millimeters in size!) at which time Philip and team harvest, prep, then sell them. Both Docker s home and his ShanDaph operations depend on solar power. Philip also built his own row boat and floating warf. ShanDaph creates, reuses, and recycles almost all production/ farming materials. Docker continuously revises his practice to implement proactive, environmentally conscious changes. Floating stores of mature oysters ready and selected for harvesting! Rooftop solar panels at ShanDaph! #sustainablefarming

4 Emma Walker and Melissa Rafuse, Watershed Project Field Interns at Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation The Stream-Team! From left to right: Youth Corps Interns Emma Walker and Melissa Rafuse assessing a culvert Emma Walker and Melissa Rafuse have been spending their summer in Lunenburg, working long hours in the streams and rivers surrounding the area. Working in a team of 3, watershed project interns have a common goal to restore stream structures such as culverts, and increase the overall population of aquatic habitats in lacking areas. By mapping and collecting data at each site visited, the team has begun to develop watershed allow for precise mapping and long term records of watershed health and needs. Melissa and Emma have been learning hands on about water quality monitoring and aquatic connectivity, as well as participating in public outreach events hosted by the Foundation and Morton Center. The Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation (BCAF) is a community based non profit, charitable organization located in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Through a combination of environmental education, watershed restoration, and research, on top of a passion for conservation and ecofriendly action; the organization has been working to enhance and restore Nova Scotian ecosystems for over 24 years. The Foundation addresses and advocates for environmental concerns along the South Shore of the province, working in around watersheds such as LaHave River and Petite Rivière. Youth Corps intern Melissa Rafuse (RIGHT) using the YSI device which helps with assessments by providing measurements for water quality parameters

5 Ronnie Noonan and Kennedy Frittenburg, Youth Focused Environmental Education at BCAF s Morton Center LEFT TO RIGHT: Kennedy Frittenburg, Clare Kellock, Ronnie Noonan Ronnie Noonan and Kennedy Frittenburg are spending the summer months planning and implementing creative new ways to teach the younger generation about the environment; and make it fun to do so! The pair work alongside Clare Kellock, planning summer camps for youth and children of almost all ages. The trio have come up with some pretty imaginative and engaging activities to date, such as the Wild Adventures and Eco Scientists programs (descriptions below). The ultimate goal? To help youth understand and evaluate the decisions they and others make which directly effect the natural world. The Morton Center is the core location for Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation s environmental education initiatives, in partnership with Acadia University. The Morton Centre s various programs deliver environmentally-themed events that both engage and educate local youth and children of all ages. All activities are outdoors and are designed to provide participants with the chance to enjoy experiential learning, science, discovery, and being active in nature. The Morton Center also hosts various community events throughout the summer, which are all free to attend and hosted on the Morton Center s breathtaking, 99- acre property.

6 Daniel Robinson, Summer Events Outreach at EfficiencyOne Intern Daniel Robinson (LEFT) conducting outreach activities at the Pictou Lobster Festival earlier this month As the Summer Events Coordinator for Efficiency Nova Scotia, Daniel Robinson has been focusing on on implementing a summer events program to be carried out throughout Nova Scotia. This summer season, Daniel has been making his way across the province and reaching out to Nova Scotian communities to spread awareness and deliver helpful tips on how each person, household, or even work community can easily reduce their energy consumption (and increase wallet size!) in simple, everyday ways! Visit the Efficiency website, or keep an eye out for Daniel in your hometown to learn more! EfficiencyOne is the franchise holder for the Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation, and focuses operations on changing and improving lives of Nova Scotians by unleashing the power of efficiency. EfficiencyOne services governments, educational institutions, health care facilities, large and medium industrial customers, and a wide range of other clients meet their energy and resource reduction goals. With the help of select external partners Efficiency makes meaningful strides in educate communities, proving resource efficiency programs and services, and overall making for a more forward thinking, efficient province. PHOTO RIGHT: Efficiency Nova Scotia, community outreach in Liverpool this summer!

7 Marcus MacIvor, Conservation Technician at Pictou County Rivers Association PHOTO ABOVE: Exploring streams with the Pictou County Rivers Association! This summer, Marcus McIvor has been spending his days exploring, assessing, and conserving the streams and associated trails between the towns of Pictou and Westville. On behalf of the Pictou County Rivers Association, Marcus has been working in a team of four, focusing on restoring and constructing in stream habitat restoration structures (such as digger logs), with the hope to restore fish populations and stimulate overall habitat diversity. The PCRA team also works together to relocate fallen trees, other major blockages, and remove debris. The Pictou County Rivers Association (PCRA) is a volunteer organization dedicated to protecting and conserving the waterways of Pictou County, Nova Scotia through hands-on projects and education. The PCRA was founded in 1990, and has assumed responsibility for the rivers of Pictou County. The PCRA now has over 35 active members and hosts multiple community events throughout the year. Since the organization s incorporation, it has maintained s firm dedication to conservation, public awareness and physical river ecosystem restoration PHOTO LEFT: Digger log structure implemented by Marcus and the PCRA crew! This structure is designed to sort and riffle through gravel, with the result of shaping small, calm pools of water DIGGER LOG: HOW IT WORKS Water heading downstream flows over the lower end of the log, which helps create deep pool that provide a cool refuge and resting place for fish!

8 Nadine Prosper, Youth Education and Camp Services at Paqtnkek Mi kmaw Nation Aboriginal Leadership intern Nadine Prosper is spending her 15 week term working within her home community of Paqtnkek; providing opportunities for youth to learn about environmental appreciation and conservation. Nadine has implemented a day camp at which participating children are taught the prominence of giving back to the natural environment as much we take. Nadine has succeeded in making environmental education fun for youth in her community, using arts and crafts (such as how to make pollution catchers out of paper plates!) as tools to inspire a passion for the environment in the younger generation. Paqtnkek Mi kmaw Nation was established on March 3, 1820 in Antigonish County and is located on the eastern side of Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The name Paqtnkek, actually means by the bay, and is a distinction that emphasizes the importance of the local bay and its resources to the Mi kmaw people, specifically of the region. After having moved away from her hometown, Nadine Prosper is ecstatic to be able to be back and working alongside Paqtnkek Mi kmaw Nation to make recognizable contributions to educating today s children and youth on critical environmental issues. PHOTO ABOVE: Youth Corps Intern Nadine Prosper, busy at her desk prepping day camp activities! PHOTO ABOVE: Nature-based arts and crafts made by youth at Paqtnkek! - (far left) Paper plate pollution catchers to hang on trees

9 Thanks for reading! Get Connected! If any hosts, alumni, funders or other stakeholders of the 2017 Youth Corps program would like keep up to speed with interns on the daily as a part of our Hivebrite social network, please Maggie at youthcorps@clean.ns.ca Copyright 2017, Clean Foundation, All rights reserved. Inspiring Environmental Change Our mailing address is: 126 Portland Street, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 1H8